Lacing construction for infants&#39; slippers



y 26, 1964 M. LAHAM 3,134,179

LACING CONSTRUCTION FOR INFANTS SLIPPERS Filed July 2'7, 1962 I NVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,134,179 LACING CONSTRUCTION FOR INFANTS SLIPPERS Mike Laham, 1932 /2 Hilllzurst Ave., Los Angeles 27, Calif. Filed July 27, 1962, Ser. No. 212,882 Claims. (Cl. 36-2.5)

This invention relates to improvements in footwear for infants and more particularly to a new and useful construction for fastening laces in infants shoes, boots or slippers.

My invention has as one of its principal objects to provide a new and useful lacing fastening construction for infants footwear which is simple to make, permits easy securing of the footwear to an infants foot and is comfortable to wear.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lacing construction comprising separable laces, each lace firmly affixed to the slipper to preclude separation and loss of the laces from the slipper.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide lacing construction comprising two laces of equal length, both firmly aflixed to the slipper, obviating the centering of the laces to provide two equal length ends.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects will become manifest to those versed in the art from the detailed description of the invention which follows.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a complete slipper or shoe constructed in accordance with my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the slipper of FIG- URE 1 but before complete assembly, showing the insertion of the knotted laces through holes in the back shoe or rear panel of the shoe upper;

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the rear panel of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear panel showing the lacing fastening construction;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary top view of the rear panel showing the lacing fastening construction;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of an eyelet before pressing or flatting; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of an eyelet inserted into the rear panel after pressing or flatting.

As shown on the drawings:

Although the principles of the present invention are of utility in any lacing construction for an article of footwear, a particularly useful application is made to infants and childrens footwear apparel and an illustrative embodiment herein shown consists of a shoe or slipper.

A completed article of footwear embodying the principles of the present invention is shown generally at 10 in FIGURES l and 2 wherein is illustrated an infants slipper or shoe comprising an outsole 11 stitched as at 12 to a shoe upper shown generally at 13.

The shoe upper 13 more specifically includes a double panel front portion including a left front panel 14 and a right front panel 16 and integrated by an outturned seam 17 stitched along the length of the seam as at 18.

There is also provided a rear panel 19 made in the form of a one piece member shown in development form in FIGURE 3.

The rear panel 19 has a lower edge 20 which is adapted to curve around the entire back of the slipper or shoe 10, thereby providing a continuous smooth back surface for engaging the heel of the infant and unbroken by any seams or folds. The lower edge is joined to the outsole 11 along its entire extent by stitching as at 12.

At opposite extremities of the rear panel 19 there is formed a re-entrant recess 21 provided by a side margin 3,134,179 Patented May 26, 1964 'ice or edge 22. Projecting upwardly and outwardly from each recess 21 and forming an extension of the side margins on edges 22, there is formed an ear 23 having a curved end portion 24 and an upper edge 26.

The top margin 27 of the rear panel 19 extends between the spaced apart upper edges 26 of the cars 23.

As is clearly illustrated in FIGURE 2 the front portion of the shoe upper 13 has an irregular rear edge or margin 28 which is symmetrical relative to a longitudinal center line, thereby to form a recess 29 and a tongue 30. In the completed shoe upper, therefor, the recesses 29 of the front panels 14 and 16 and the recesses 21 of the rear panel 19 will together form side openings 31 having the lowermost portions closed by the confronting meeting ends 32 of the front and rear panels.

At the top of the side openings 31, the ears 23 extend forwardly toward the tongue 30. The tongue 30 projects sufficiently upwardly from the toe of the article to overlie the instep of the foot of the wearer.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention separable laces interconnect the ears 23 and the tongue 30 through tongue holes 33, thereby permitting the article to be firmly and securely engaged with the infants foot. Moreover, the laces are permanently affixed, thereby precluding inadvertent detachment or even mis-alignment of the mating ends.

Referring again to FIGURE 3, both ears 23 are formed with two eyelet holes 34 and a lace hole 36. The diam eter of the eyelet holes, in the illustrated embodiment of my invention, is larger than the diameter of the lace hole, although it will be noted that other relative sizes of diameters can be used. In FIGURE 2, laces 37 are shown inserted in the lace holes 36 of ears 23. A knot 38 is formed at one end of laces 37 and the laces are secured to the ears 23 by the knot 38 and a rivet or eyelet 39.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the fastening construction of a lace to a folded ear of the rear panel, wherein the lace 37 is inserted through the lace hole 36 of the ear 23. The eyelet 39 is disposed in the passage of the folded ear 23 formed by the two eyelet holes 34 (FIGURE 3) which are concentrically aligned and in registry with each other.

FIGURE 5 illustrates the configuration of an eyelet 39 before it is pressed or flattened in the eyelet hole. The eyelet shank 40 extends from the eyelet ring 41 thereby forming the hollow passageway 42.

As illustrated in FIGURE 6, an ear 23 has been folded over. The eyelet 39 is disposed in the passageway formed by the two eyelet holes 34, and the lace 37 is shown protruding from the lace hole 36.

FIGURE 7 illustrates in vertical cross-section the configuration of an eyelet when pressed or flattened in final assembly to a folded ear 23. The eyelet shank is pressed outwardly and flatly to form an eyelet shank ring or head 43. The ear 23 is securely disposed between the eyelet ring 41 and the eyelet shank ring 43.

In the assembly of the slipper, the left and right front panels 14 and 16 are secured by stitching 44 to the outsole 11, and then to each other by the stitching 18. The rear panel 19 is secured to the outsole 11 by the stitching 12. A knot 38 is tied at the end of a lace 37. The lace is then inserted into lace hole 36 of the ear 23 of the rear panel 19. The lace is thereafter pulled through the lace hole 36 until the knot 38 is in abutting engagement with the rear panel ear 23. The rear panel ear is then folded over, bringing the two eyelet holes 34 into concentric registry with each other. An eyelet or rivet 39 is then inserted through the opening formed by the eyelet holes 34. The eyelet shank 40 is then pressed or flattened to secure a firm bond between the eyelet 39 and the rear panel ear 23. The lace 37 is thereby enveloped by the folded ear and is prevented from moving in a distal direction relative to the rear panel ear 23 by the knot 38. The lace is also Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention: 1. In an article of footwear the improvement of an upper having a forwardly projecting car along the side of the article,

said ear having at least three longitudinally spaced apertures formed therein, a lace inserted through the middle one of said apertures, said lace having the ends thereof knotted to form an abutment preventing withdrawal of the lace through said middle aperture, said ear being reversely folded with the other two of said apertures in register with one another, and a fastener extending through said other apertures and locking said ear in enveloping relation to the knotted end of said lace. 2. In an article of footwear the improvement of a rear panel having a portion forming two ears,

said ears each having longitudinally and spacedly formed therein two larger holes and one smaller hole, said ears being reversely folded whereby the two larger holes in each ear are in concentric registry and the smaller hole is disposed at the folded edge of each ear, a pair of laces each having a knot tied at one end,

said laces each being inserted through the smaller hole of one of said ears and the knot in said laces being drawn up in abutting engagement with said ears, and an eyelet disposed through the hole defined by the two larger holes of each folded ear,

said eyelet being flattened to keep both portions of the folded ears in pressed and firm assembly,

whereby the knot at the end of each lace and located within the folded portion of each of said ears is restricted in motion by abutting engagement with the folded edge of said folded ears and said eyelet.

3. In an article of footwear the improvement of a rear panel having a portion forming two folded ears, said folded ears each having a smaller hole formed at the folded edge thereof and another larger hole formed at a longitudinal distal position from the folded edge thereof, a pair of laces each having a knot at one end,

said laces each being inserted through the smaller hole of one of said folded ears and the knot in said laces being drawn up in abutting engagement with the folded edge of said folded ears, and a pair of fasteners each extending through the larger hole of one of said folded ears and maintaining said ears in a folded or enveloping relation to the knotted end of said laces,

said fasteners comprising a hollow shank and a head at each end of said shank, both heads being pressed toward each other in a longitudinal direction relative to said shank. 4. In an article of footwear the improvement of an upper having a front portion,

said front portion having a narrowed tongue extending backwardly and upwardly and overlying the instep,

said tongue having at least two holes spaced transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of said tongue, a rear panel having a pair of ears projecting upwardly forwardly toward said tongue,

said ears each having a group of three longitudinally spaced holes found therein and being reversely folded with the middle of said holes disposed in the folded edge of said ears and the other two of said holes placed in concentric registry with one another, a pair of laces each having a knot tied at one end,

said laces each being inserted through the middle hole of each of said ears and the knot in said laces being drawn up in abutting engagement with said ears, and v I an eyelet extending through each of said ears in'the hole formed by the concentric registry of the two outer holes of said group of holes,

said eyelet being flattened at both ends to maintain each of said ears in an enveloping relation to said knot in said ears, and the loose end of each of said laces being inserted through one of the holes of said tongue and adapted to be tied together. 5. An infants slipper comprising, an outsole, an upper having a front portion and a rear panel,

said front portion having a left front panel and a right front panel, said panels being symmetrical about a longitudinal axis of said slipper, and said panels being firmly connected or stitched to said outsole along their lower edge and stitched to each other along their upper edge, and said panels being formed to connect to said outsole at the mid-portion thereof and then extend upwardly and forwardly to the mid-portion of said panel and then upwardly and backwardly to connect to each other to form a tongue, said tongue having two spaced apertures in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of said slipper, said rear panel stitched to said outsole and having a portion forming two ears,

said ears projecting upwardly forwardly towards said tongue, and said ears each having a group of three longitudinally spaced holes formed therein and being reversely folded withthe middle of said holes disposed in the folded edge of said ears and the other two of said holes placed in concentric registry with one another, a pair of laces each having a knot tied at one end,

said laces each being inserted through the middle hole of each of said ears and the knot in said laces being drawn up in abutting engagement with said ears, and an eyelet extending through each of said ears in the hole formed by the concentric registry of the two outer holes of said group of holes,

said eyelet being flattened at both ends to main tain each of said ears in an enveloping relation to said knots in said laces, and the loose end of each of said laces being inserted through one of said holes of said tongue and adapted to be tied together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,109,751 Matthias et al Mar. 1, 1938 2,487,227 Eberle Nov. 8, 1949 2,749,629 Scala June 12, 1956 

1. IN AN ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR THE IMPROVEMENT OF AN UPPER HAVING A FORWARDLY PROJECTING EAR ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ARTICLE, SAID EAR HAVING AT LEAST THREE LONGITUDINALLY SPACED APERTURES FORMED THEREIN, A LACE INSERTED THROUGH THE MIDDLE ONE OF SAID APERTURES, SAID LACE HAVING THE ENDS THEREOF KNOTTED TO FORM AN ABUTMENT PREVENTING WITHDRAWAL OF THE LACE THROUGH SAID MIDDLE APERTURE, SAID EAR BEING REVERSELY FOLDED WITH THE OTHER TWO OF SAID APERTURES IN REGISTER WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND A FASTENER EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OTHER APERTURES AND LOCKING SAID EAR IN ENVELOPING RELATION TO THE KNOTTED END OF SAID LACE. 